Ok, its still early in your game, you have a few colonies started , and by now you have a handful of small cargos to shuttle resorces to your new colonies. Its a slow go because your depending on homeworld mines to build your colonies up. Are there any other options to get resorces faster ? yes, use those cargos, to raid the inactives around you. even if you only profit 1000 , hey its free resorces and your cargo ships are aiding your mines to build your empire, something to think about.